1. In a large bowl, whisk all the liquid ingredients together and then slowly whisk in the flour and remaining ingredients.
2. Melt some butter on a hot, flat surface (griddle or pan) and ladle 1/3 cup of the batter. Add desired toppings (sliced bananas, blueberries, chocolate chips, etc).
3. Flip over when they have risen (double in size). Transfer to a plate and garnish with fresh fruit and maple syrup. Enjoy!

A must-have during the holiday season and colder weather months, add a drop or two of this refreshing pure peppermint extract to hot chocolate, cappuccino, cookies, candies, icings, and sweetened whipped cream. It’s also great massaged onto your temples to relieve a headache!

This sweet wine jelly is infused with ripe, sweet figs and dry, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, a red wine with rich black currant and dark cherry notes. It’s the perfect pairing this holiday season, whether it’s a part of an appetizer cheese tray or brushed onto a plum or pear tart for dessert.

Known for its superior quality, the Madagascar-Bourbon vanilla bean is the most popular of all the vanilla varieties. It is highly fragrant, with desirable thin, oil-rich skin, and has sweet, smooth flavours and aromas.

I have had a chance to try these products in various recipes and I must say that my favourite item this month has been the PC Black Label Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean. As a Pastry Chef, this is a highly coveted item that I love to work with and always reach for before using any extracts. The flavour is rich and shines in any sweet or savory dish that it is used in. For this month, I decided to showcase my love for cranberries and vanilla bean in the form of scones. I love this time of year with the fresh cranberries and the holiday season fast approaching, these are perfect to make for a weekend brunch. They are sure to please everyone. If you’re not a fan of cranberries, you can swap them out for blueberries or raspberries. I’m excited to be hosting a giveaway for next month’s PC Black Label Collection Black Box on my Instagram feed. Read on for more information and how to enter below. Good Luck! I hope you’ll enjoy the recipe and it becomes your favourite go-to breakfast dessert. I would love to see your recreations using the hashtag, #hautesucre on your social media channels. Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collectionmakes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel.

*PC Black Label Collection December Black Box Instagram Giveaway*

Giveaway details will be posted on my Instagram account @hautesucre. Head on over to find the post of this Cranberry Vanilla Bean Scones Recipe to enter via the Instagram comments. Giveaway Rules:

The giveaway will be open for entries on Instagram from Monday November 26th, 2018 to Wednesday November 28, 2018 9:00PM EST. Please follow the instructions in the Instagram post to enter.

The winner will be chosen randomly on the morning of Thursday November 29, 2018 and contacted via Instagram direct message.

Topping:

2 tsp cream

2 tsp raw sugar

Finishing:

½ cup white chocolate, melted

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

For the Scones:

Using a sharp paring knife, slice the vanilla bean lengthwise from tip to end. Use the back of the knife to scrape out the vanilla beans. *The vanilla bean pod can be reused and added to your sugar container to make vanilla scented sugar.

Pour in the buttermilk and cranberries and stir with a fork until a soft, sticky dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface and, with floured hands, gently knead and shape the dough, adding more flour to prevent sticking as necessary until dough comes together.

Pat out to a 9-inch (23 cm) circle or square as shown and cut into 12 wedges. Place on prepared baking sheet, at least 1-inch (2.5 cm) apart.

Topping:

Brush tops of scones with heavy cream and sprinkle with raw sugar.

Bake for 15 to 20 min, until puffed and golden.

Let cool for at least 20 min on a wire rack.

Melt the white chocolate in a heat proof bowl for 45-60 seconds on high in the microwave.

Using the tines of a fork or the back of a spoon, drizzle the white chocolate over top of the scones. Let it set for a few minutes until the chocolate sets and is no longer runny. Enjoy!

Kulfi is a popular frozen dairy dessert from the Indian Subcontinent, often described as traditional Indian ice cream. It is one of my favourites and evokes delicious memories of hot summers with my siblings and cousins, playing outside in the hot sun and eating cold kulfis, dribbling down our chins with happy grins.

These coveted treats were also the dessert highlight to many family dinners we attended, hoping there would be kulfi with falooda to finish off the meal. It was the perfect sweet combination of sickly sweet with the cool of the pistachio and almond cream, the essence of rose and beautiful saffron threads.

Perhaps this is where my love of desserts first started as a young child and fast forward to today, mixing cultures and recreating desserts with a French twist. Who can resist playing with their food, especially when it comes to ice cream!

I’ve always loved rhubarb and worked with it quite a bit in Paris and it just felt like a natural fit to pair it with this decadent PC Black Label Pistachio Ice Cream. It also ties in perfectly with Spring right now as I love to make desserts with available, in-season produce. It’s the perfect time to make this dessert, especially if you can get your hands on fresh rhubarb stalks this time of year. So come on, let’s play…

When I opened up this month’s PC Black Label Box I was delighted to see a selection of wonderful products.

PC Black Label Pistachio Ice Cream

PC Black Label Rooibos Tea

PC Gorgonzola Dolce

PC Black Label Pistachio Ice Creamis an artisanal-style ice cream made with whole cream, sugar, egg yolks and pistachio paste that leaves a rich, velvety and luxurious melt-in-your-mouth experience. I was immediately drawn to this and all I could think of was kulfi and what to pair this with to make an outstanding dessert.

PC Gorgonzola Dolce is a sweet and creamy cheese that is a milder blue cheese that makes a great addition to any cheese board for the blue cheese lovers or melted over a hot, sizzling steak this summer!

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collectionmakes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel.

I hope you’ll enjoy the recipe and it becomes your favourite go-to dessert. I would love to see your recreations using the hashtag, #hautesucre on your social media channels.

I’m excited to be hosting a giveaway for next month’s PC Black Label Collection Black Box on my Instagram feed. Read on for more information and how to enter below. Good Luck!

*PC Black Label Collection June Black Box Instagram Giveaway*

Giveaway details will be posted on my Instagram account @hautesucre. Head on over to find the post of this Pistachio & Rhubarb Kulfi to enter via the Instagram comments.

Giveaway Rules:

The giveaway will be open for entries on Instagram from Monday May 21, 2018 to Thursday May 24, 2018 11:59PM EST. Please follow the instructions in the Instagram post to enter.

The winner will be chosen randomly on the morning of Friday May 25, 2018 and contacted via Instagram direct message.

These Orange Mousse Cups are the perfect dinner party dessert, yet perfect for a simple weeknight treat. They are quick and easy to make, light and airy in texture, and refreshing. You can easily make this ahead of time, with little or no fuss at all. All you need are simple and wholesome ingredients to turn into a magical dessert that your friends and family will love!

I have made these Orange Mousse Cups with Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice to give it a nice refreshing taste that really complements this eggless mousse. I love incorporating nutritious foods into my desserts, so it’s a great feeling knowing Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice provides the additional nutritional benefits. The orange juice gives this mousse the rich and velvety orange flavour and gives off the impression that you spent hours to make it, when in fact it can be ready in under 30 minutes.

I hope you’ll try out this recipe and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next brunch or dinner party, they’re sure to become your new favourite mousse, get the recipe below. Enjoy!

Acai bowls are a favourite here at our house. It’s like eating ice cream for breakfast only healthier with the addition of wholesome fruits. It’s one way to entice your kids to eat a healthy breakfast, chock full of vitamins and daily servings of fruit and vegetables.

Traditionally Acai bowls are prepared with blended acai fruit and bananas and topped with coconut, bananas and berries. With the recent food trends all over the world, acai bowls have become highly popular and instagram worthy, and why not, these bowls are a healthy addiction to have.

I have partnered with Tropicana Canada for this Orange Acai Bowl recipe using Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice. I love the hint of citrus in the smoothie bowl as it gives me that pick me up in the morning and it complements the berries so well. They are a healthy breakfast option in our house as they’re easy to prepare and the kids love to add their own toppings.

It is also an excellent addition to your brunch table if you’re having a lot of guests as it allows them to customize their bowls with the own toppings. I always like to set up a little buffet bar of the toppings and everyone can help themselves! It’s a fun and entertaining way to serve breakfast!

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next brunch, they’re sure to become your new favourite, get the recipe below.

Waffles are a weekend treat at home and we love gathering around for big brunches with everyone. From sweet to savory, the options are endless. We love these whole grain waffles because they’re a healthy alternative as they’re made with whole wheat flour and our favourite Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice.

I feel better knowing I’m feeding my family a healthier option with the addition of Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice as it includes two servings of fruit per cup and we get the additional vitamin C and potassium in our waffles.

But who are we kidding? I love orange juice and any way that I can incorporate it into my meal, I will. My two-year-old daughter will devour an entire waffle for breakfast and I don’t feel guilty serving them to my kids.

Crowned with our favourite toppings, they’re the perfect cozy weekend brunch meal. To make it even more fun, I like to set up a mini fruit bar station for my kids that includes various berries, sliced oranges, nuts, whipped cream and maple syrup. And of course, we cannot forget the dusting of icing sugar that crowns the top!

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next brunch, they’re sure to become your new favourite, get the recipe below.

Whole Grain Orange Waffles Recipe

Makes 6 Waffles

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Organic Whole Wheat Flour

2 tblsp buttermilk powder

½ tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp ground vanilla bean

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

1 ¼ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

3 tblsp raw sugar

¾ cup Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice

1 large free range egg

3 tblsp unsalted butter, softened or melted

Toppings:

Fresh berries

Whipped cream

Icing sugar

Maple Syrup

Directions:

In a high-speed blender mix all the ingredients in the order listed and mix on medium-high for 1 minute or until the ingredients are combined. Set aside.

Transfer to a cooling rack and continue making the rest of the waffles

Transfer one waffle to a plate and top with your desired toppings such as mixed berries, maple syrup and finish with whipped cream and a dusting of icing sugar.

This post is sponsored by Tropicana Canada. I have partnered up with Tropicana Canada to bring you delicious new recipes that will highlight the goodness of cooking and baking with Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice and how I enjoy it in my daily life.

This month’s PC Black Box included three delightful products that I had the opportunity to try. From snacks to desserts, there is such a wide array of PC Black Label products that you can serve for any occasion.

PC Black Label Artichoke Halves These sun-ripened artichokes are grilled and marinated and they’re packed in a delicous infusion of oils, garlic and spices. My husband loves artichokes and these were a delicious addition to pizza.

Blueberry Syrup

Soft Dried Apricots

PC Black Label Artichoke Halves

These sun-ripened artichokes are grilled and marinated and they’re packed in a delicious infusion of oils, garlic and spices. My husband loves artichokes and these were a delicious addition to pizza.

These sweet and plump Apricots from Turkey did not disappoint, they were eaten within minutes of opening the bag. My 7 year old son devoured them, they’re that good! Great for a cheese platter or just to snack on, these are a real treat to have around the house.

Made from carefully selected sweet blueberries, this artisan syrup is bursting with fresh berries! It’s an amazing rich syrup which makes delicious cocktails, salad dressings and our favourite breakfast or dessert toppings. One of my favourite products from this month’s PC Black Label Box, read on for my take on a holiday favourite, Swirled Blueberry Pavlovas!

I enjoyed all the products but I particularly favored the PC Black Label Blueberry Syrup for this month’s recipe selection. The first thing that popped into my mind was how well this sauce would go with my one of my favourite holiday desserts, pavlovas!

Pavlovas are a holiday favourite in our family and I hope they will become yours, too. This recipe is easy to prepare and the meringues can be baked ahead of time, up to 3 days and stored in an airtight container, layered between parchment sheets.

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collection makes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch ensuring there are no lumps.

2. In a large stand mixer whisk the egg whites on medium for 1 minute until frothy.

3. Add the salt and continue to whisk on highest setting for 2 minutes.

4. With the mixer running on medium high, slowly add the sugar mixture. Once it’s all added, turn the mixture back on high and whisk for 5 minutes until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks have formed.

5. Spoon out 6-8 mounds on the parchment sheet using 2 spoons to help release the mixture.

6. Spoon 1 tsp of blueberry sauce into each mound and using the tines of the fork, gently swirl the sauce into the meringue.

7. Using the back of a small spoon, make an indent in the centre.

8. Bake at 255°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

9. Turn the oven off and leave the meringues inside to cool down, up to 12 hours without opening the oven door.

Baked Meringues

Pavlova Assembly:

1 cup Whipping cream 35%

2 tblsp sugar

Fresh fruit

In a large stand mixer add the whipping cream and sugar and beat until medium peaks form.

Plate each meringue and top with the fresh whipped cream, fresh berries and drizzle with 1 Tbsp PC Black Label Blueberry Sauce over top. Garnish with fresh mint and serve immediately.

(This post is sponsored by Tropicana Canada. I have partnered up with Tropicana Canada to bring you delicious new recipes that will highlight the goodness of cooking and baking with Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice and how I enjoy it in my daily life.)

I am a big advocate of orange juice, always have been. Not only do I love the refreshing taste but I enjoy the immense benefits it brings such as a daily dose of vitamin C. A lot of love into a 250ml glass of 100% Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice. Each glass contains:

Two servings of fruit

Full day’s supply of Vitamin C

As much potassium as a medium banana

I have been buying Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice for myself and my family for as long as I can remember as it is apart of our healthy diet. I never realized all the added benefits I was getting as we primarily drink it because it tastes good – the additional benefits are a bonus!

I love incorporating ingredients that I trust into my cooking and baked goods and this new recipe for Orange Tea Cakesis no exception. It’s delicious, straightforward and requires little fuss or expertise. As these are petit fours, you can be creative with your choice of molds. I have used mini madeleine molds, but you can also use mini savarin ring molds as well as mini muffin tins.

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next cookie exchange or holiday brunch, they’re sure to become your new holiday favourite, get the recipe below.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350F Line a mini madeleine pan or mini muffin tray with butter. If using silicone bakeware, do not coat with butter, but place silicone moulds over a baking sheet for the oven. Best eaten on the day they’re baked.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking power, and salt. Set aside.

In a large stand mixer with the paddle attachment, add the butter and sugar and beat on medium high for 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time and continue to beat for 5 minutes. You want the batter to be light and fluffy.

Lower the speed on the stand mixer and pour in the vanilla, orange zest and orange juice, mix until combined.

Keeping the mixer on the lowest speed, add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined – do not over mix.

With a small teaspoon or cookie scoop, transfer the batter to your mini cake pan and bake at 350F for 15 min or until slightly golden.

Buckwheat cookies are an amazing alternative for those with gluten intolerance. Made with healthy and hearty wholesome ingredients such as medjool dates, coconut, and my favourite – hazelnuts!

Hazelnuts can be substituted in this recipe, but these go nicely with the buckwheat and chocolate. These are so tasty you won’t miss a thing, my 7 year old loves them and we’ve made them many times.

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next cookie exchange or holiday brunch, they’re sure to become your new holiday favourite, get the recipe below.

Buckwheat Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies (gluten free) Recipe

Ingredients:

8 Medjool Dates

2/3 cups hazelnuts

2/3 cups maple sugar (or raw turbinado sugar)

Pinch of sea salt

Pinch of ground cinnamon

1 large free range organic egg

2 tblsp almond milk (or other dairy/non dairy liquid)

1 cup Buckwheat flour

1/3 cup coconut manna (dried coconut)

1/4 cup cacao nibs

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground Vanilla bean

1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips

Topping:

1 cup dairy free chocolate Cacao nibs

Fleur de sel

Instructions:

1. In a high speed blender or food processor, pulse the hazelnuts and dates until broken down. You should still see chopped pieces of nuts – you don’t want hazelnut flour.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until the mixture comes together. Do not over process.

3. Transfer the batter to a small bowl and work it with your hands for a few minutes, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.

4. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

7. Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and scoop out the mixture into mid size balls.

8. Gently roll and flatten them slightly so that they bake evenly.

9. Bake for 12 minutes. Let them rest for 2 min and transfer to a rack to completely cool.

10. Melt 1 cup of chocolate into a small heatproof bowl and set aside.

11. When the cookies have cooled, dip each half cookie into the bowl of melted chocolate, shaking off the excess and laying it flat onto the parchment sheet to dry. Repeat with remaining chocolate.

12. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with raw cacao nibs and fleur de sel. Let the chocolate harden until set.